She gave up her infant son to two strangers who became her friends. Now, more than two years later, she's still in his life, visiting regularly. In an open adoption, they're all doing their best for Ryan.

It is a long ride back to the city, but she could talk all night. There's not much to look at anyway, except the headlights from oncoming traffic splitting the night sky in two.

Deron Neblett

Not all of Kristi's family understood her decision to place Ryan for adoption.

"They thought I was being selfish because I didn't want to be bothered with motherhood," says Kristi, referring to her family. "And you could look at it that way. That it was selfish that I didn't want to be a mom. But it was selfish because I did love him. I was selfish for the both of us."